A BIRMINGHAM cafe is looking at dropping its Hs in a legal row over its Hungry Hobbit name.

The popular Moseley eatery could soon be renamed the Hungry ‘Obbit in the hope of overcoming alleged breach of trademark laws.

Cafe owner Wendy Busst, a Solihull mum-of-two, was warned last year about using the name by lawyers representing the estate of JRR Tolkien and The Saul Zaentz Company (SZC, trading as Middle-earth Enterprises).

They wanted her to “phase out any use of the name Hungry Hobbit within a reasonable time”.

They threatened that failure to do so would leave international law firm Edward Wildman with “no alternative but to pursue all the remedies afforded by law”.

But 43-year-old Mrs Busst has put the idea of dropping her Hs to SZC lawyers, who are putting similar pressure on Southampton pub The Hobbit, which has Tolkienesque decor and serves cocktails with names such as Bilbo, Gandalf and Frodo,

“I’ve asked if taking the H off our name would be okay and if they would help with the costs,” she said.

“It would be better than changing the name completely, but it would still be a shame if we’ve got to do that – we should be proud of the name, especially here in Birmingham.

“And it would cost us a bit because we’d have to change the sign outside, our menus and other things. I’ve asked them, but I’ve not heard back yet.”

Actor Stephen Fry has also stepped into the row, accusing the film industry of “bullying” over the Hobbit row.

He is currently in New Zealand shooting two Hobbit films with Sir Peter Jackson, but tweeted about the Southampton pub: “Honestly, @savethehobbit, sometimes I’m ashamed of the business I’m in. What pointless, self-defeating bullying.”

Mrs Busst added: “It’s awful the way we’re being treated. A big company, like SZC, doesn’t appreciate how they’re affecting little businesses like ours. It feels like we’re being victimised.”

A spokesman for Edward Wildman Group solicitors said their clients would not comment.